



How to Become a Game Tester
Written by wangmin on January 19, 2010 16:41
If you consider yourself a master gamer and have a true passion for video games then a career as a game tester is the right choice for youRead on to know more about how to become a game testerIt is often a misconception that all that a video game tester does is play gamesWell, in a way it's true; you are paid to play video gamesBut it is not as smooth sailing as it soundsGame testers have to put in long hours and hard workSometimes you need to play computer games which are not 'cool' or 'awesome'
You always need to be on top of your game at all times, or there are many waiting to grab your spotYour job just doesn't involve playing games, but finding errors, glitches, bugs, checking the minutest mistakes in spellings and designsGame testers not only have to check for mistakes and errors but they also have to recommend ways to improve the games.
Game testers should have good information about the various software used to design the gameThey are also required to have some programming backgroundIf you don't understand the program language of the programmers and game producers, how will you know what they are talking about?
It is also necessary to have a good command in English, both oral and writtenA game tester should be familiar with the hardware and software of desktop computersHe should have working knowledge of spreadsheets, programs, word document etcHe should be aware of the recent happenings in the game marketHe should have information about all the previously released games and also regarding the ones to be releasedHe should be well-aware how the programmers, game developers, artists, composers, etcdo their jobNew game testers should have the know-how of all the things related to the gaming industry
In order to get a job, you will need to have a lot of interest and patienceThe 'entry-level job' requires hard work, computer and gaming knowledgeMany times a tester needs to put in 8-10 hours to check every feature of the game and find bugs and errorsThe game testing job is mainly outsourced by many companiesThe jobs offered are on part-time or per-game basisLarge companies hire permanent game testersThe smaller companies are always on a look-out for freelancersIf you wish to use game testing as a step to expand your career in the gaming industry, you should take up a job with developer or publisher.
The other option available for becoming a game tester, is by participating in the public beta tests for popular gamesThis will make you aware about what a game tester does dailyYou need to find the bugs and errors as a beta testerYou should have in-dept knowledge about gaming consoles and operating systems, game companies hire people who know their job wellA detailed report has to be prepared daily reproducing the bugs you foundIf you can't reproduce the bugs encountered, you are out of the gaming industryThus, strong oral and written English skills are a must for communication in this jobOne should keep in mind, beta testers are mainly volunteers and not paid for the jobAt the most, one can be offered a free copy of the game when released.
This was all about how to become a video game testerGame testing is not 'all play' and 'no work'It is a real job with deadlinesThere are detailed reports that has to be made on time, failing to do so, companies may lose millions of dollarsGame testing pays big bucksThus, game testing can be called a dream job, where one gets paid to play video games!
